III. Liturgy of the Faithful
Liturgy of the Faithful- the third, most important part of the liturgy, in which the Holy Gifts, prepared at the proskomedia, are transformed into the Body and Blood of Christ by the power and action of the Holy Spirit and are offered up as a saving sacrifice for people to God the Father, and then given to believers for communion. This part of the liturgy received its name because only the faithful can be present during its celebration and begin to partake of the Holy Mysteries, that is, persons who have accepted the Orthodox faith through Holy Baptism and remained faithful to the vows given at Holy Baptism.
The Liturgy of the Faithful commemorates the suffering of the Lord Jesus Christ, His death, burial, Resurrection, Ascension into heaven, His sitting at the right hand of God the Father and His second glorious coming to earth.
This part of the liturgy includes the most important sacred rites:
- The transfer of the Honest Gifts from the altar to the throne, the preparation of believers for prayerful participation in the performance of the Bloodless Sacrifice.
- The very celebration of the Sacrament, with the prayerful remembrance of members of the Heavenly and Earthly Church.
- Preparation for communion and the administration of communion to clergy and laity.
- Thanksgiving for communion and blessing for the departure from the temple (dismissal).
Litany/>
The deacon on behalf of the faithful pronounces two litanies:
Deacon:
Chorus: Lord have mercy.
Deacon: Wisdom.
Priest: For all glory, honor and worship is due to You, Father and Son and Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages.
Chorus: Amen.
The censer is prepared and the Ponamaran candle is lit.
Deacon: Let us pray again and again in peace to the Lord.
Chorus: Lord have mercy.
Deacon: Let us pray to the Lord for heavenly peace and the salvation of our souls.
Chorus: Lord have mercy.
Deacon: Let us pray to the Lord for the peace of the whole world, the prosperity of God’s holy Churches and the unity of all.
Chorus: Lord have mercy.
Deacon:
Chorus: Lord have mercy.
Deacon:
Chorus: Lord have mercy.
Deacon: Intercede, save, have mercy and preserve us, O God, by Your grace.
Deacon: Wisdom.
Priest: As we always keep under Your power, we send glory to You, Father and Son and Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages.
(The royal gates open.)
The censer is served. The altar boy stands in a high place so as not to interfere with the censing. When the censing is over and the deacon enters the altar, he synchronously crosses himself and bows with the clergy, the third time he bows as usual (high place, priest) and goes to the northern gate. At the priest’s signal, he opens the door and goes out to the lectern as usual. Stands in front of the lectern until the Royal Doors close. According to custom, he enters the Altar.
Chorus: Amen, and sings the Cherubic song
Cherubic Song/>
Even as the Cherubim secretly form and sing the Trisagion hymn to the Life-Giving Trinity, let us now put aside all worldly cares...
Great Entrance/>
The deacon and priest, having taken the Holy Gifts, leave the altar on the solea.
Deacon: (name), His Holiness Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus', and Our Lord the Most Reverend (name of the diocesan bishop), May the Lord God remember you in His Kingdom, always, now and ever, and forever and ever.
Priest: May the Lord God remember you and all Orthodox Christians in His Kingdom, always, now and ever, and forever and ever.
Chorus: Amen. As if we will raise up the King of all, the angels invisibly dorinoshi chinmi. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
[Instead of the Cherubim at the liturgy on Maundy Thursday it is sung“Thy Mystical Supper...” and on Holy Saturday -"Let all flesh be silent..." (these chants are given in the chapter “Chants from the services of the Lenten Triodion”).]
Prosphoras are being cut for the communicants.
Litany of Petition/>
Deacon: Let us fulfill our prayer to the Lord.
Chorus: Lord have mercy.
Deacon: Let us pray to the Lord for the honest gifts offered.
Chorus: Lord have mercy.
Deacon: Let us pray to the Lord for this holy temple and for those who enter it with faith, reverence and fear of God.
Chorus: Lord have mercy.
Deacon: Let us pray to the Lord for deliverance from all sorrow, anger and need.
Chorus: Lord have mercy.
Deacon: Intercede, save, have mercy and preserve us, O God, by Your grace.
Chorus: Lord have mercy.
Deacon: For a day of all things perfect, holy, peaceful and sinless, we ask the Lord.
Chorus: Give it, Lord.
Deacon: We ask the Lord for a peaceful, faithful mentor, guardian of our souls and bodies.
Chorus: Give it, Lord.
Deacon: We ask the Lord for forgiveness and forgiveness of our sins and transgressions.
Chorus: Give it, Lord.
Deacon: We ask the Lord for kindness and benefit to our souls and for peace.
Chorus: Give it, Lord.
Deacon:
Chorus: Give it, Lord.
Deacon: The Christian death of our belly is painless, shameless, peaceful, and we ask for a good answer at the Last Judgment of Christ.
Chorus: Give it, Lord.
Deacon: Our Most Holy, Most Pure, Most Blessed, Glorious Lady Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary, having remembered with all the saints, let us commend ourselves and each other, and our whole life to Christ our God.
Chorus: To you, Lord.
Priest: Through the bounty of Your Only Begotten Son, with Him you are blessed, with Your Most Holy and Good and Life-giving Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages.
Chorus: Amen.
Priest: Peace to all.
Chorus: And to your spirit.
Deacon: Let us love one another and be of one mind.
Chorus: Father and Son and Holy Spirit, Trinity Consubstantial and Indivisible.
Deacon: Doors, doors, let us smell wisdom. (The curtain of the royal gates opens.)
The kettle is put on to boil.
Symbol of faith/>
Choir (or all worshipers):
- I believe in One God, the Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth, visible to all and invisible.
- And in the One Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Only Begotten, Who was born of the Father before all ages. Light from Light, true God from true God, born, uncreated, consubstantial with the Father, to Whom all things were.
- For our sake, man, and for our salvation, who came down from Heaven, and became incarnate from the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary, and became human.
- She was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate, and suffered and was buried.
- And he rose again on the third day according to the Scriptures.
- And ascended into Heaven, and sits at the right hand of the Father.
- And again the coming one will be judged with glory by the living and the dead, and His Kingdom will have no end.
- And in the Holy Spirit, the Life-Giving Lord, who proceeds from the Father, who is with the Father and the Son, we worship and glorify, who spoke the prophets.
- Into one Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church.
- I confess one Baptism for the remission of sins.
- I drink the resurrection of the dead,
- and the life of the next century. Amen.
Eucharistic canon./>
Deacon: Let's become kind, let's become fearful, let's take in the Holy Ascension in the world.
Chorus: Mercy of the world, Victim of praise.
Priest: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God and the Father, and the communion of the Holy Spirit, be with you all.
Chorus: And with your spirit.
Priest: We have sorrow in our hearts.
Chorus: Imams to the Lord.
Priest: We thank the Lord.
Chorus: It is worthy and righteous to worship the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, the Trinity, Consubstantial and Indivisible.
Priest: Singing a victory song, crying out, calling out and saying:
Chorus: Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord of hosts, fill Heaven and earth with Your glory; Hosanna in the highest, blessed is He who comes in the Name of the Lord, Hosanna in the highest.
Priest: Take, eat, this is My Body, which was broken for you for the remission of sins.
Chorus: Amen.
Priest: Drink from it, all of you, this is My Blood of the New Testament, which is shed for you and for many for the remission of sins.
Chorus: Amen.
(At the Liturgy of St. Basil the Great, the last exclamations of the priest begin with the words: “Give to His saints, disciple and apostle, rivers:.”)
Priest: Yours from Yours brings to You for everyone and for everything. The censer is being prepared.
Chorus: We sing to You, we bless You, we thank You, Lord, and we pray to You. Our God. The censer is served during “We sing to You...”, after the words of the priest in the altar “Applying Your Holy Spirit.” Amen. Amen. Amen."
Priest: Much about our Most Holy, Most Pure, Most Blessed, Glorious Lady Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary.
Chorus: It is worthy to eat, as you are truly blessed, the Mother of God, the Ever-Blessed and Most Immaculate and the Mother of our God. We magnify Thee, the most honorable Cherub and the most Glorious without comparison, the Seraphim, who gave birth to God the Word without corruption.
[On the twelve holidays and their after-feasts, instead of “It is worthy...” the chorus and irmos of the 9th song of the festive canon, the so-called “zadostoynik”, are sung. On Maundy Thursday the irmos of the 9th song “Wanderings of the Lady...” is sung, on Great Saturday - “Do not weep for Me, Mother...”, on Vaiy Week - “God the Lord...” (these chants are given in the chapters “Chants from the services of the Lenten Triodion” and “Chants from the services of the Colored Triodion”).
If the liturgy of St. Basil the Great, instead of “It is worthy...” we sing:
In You rejoices, O Gracious One, every creature, the angelic council and the human race, consecrated in the temple and verbal paradise, virgin praise, from the Unknown God was incarnate and the Child was born, our God before this age; for Thy throne is false, and Thy womb is wider than the heavens. Every creature rejoices in You, O Gracious One, glory to You. ]
Priest: First remember, Lord, our Great Master and Father (name), His Holiness Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus', and Our Lord the Most Reverend (name of diocesan bishop), and grant them to Thy holy Churches in the world, whole, honest, healthy, long-living, the right to rule the word of Thy truth.
Chorus: And everyone and everything.
Priest: And grant us with one mouth and one heart to glorify and glorify Your Most Honorable and Magnificent Name, the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages.
Chorus: Amen.
Priest: And may the mercies of the Great God and our Savior Jesus Christ be with you all.
Chorus: And with your spirit.
The cup for warmth and communion plates is being prepared.
Litany of petition/>
Deacon: Having remembered all the saints, let us pray again and again in peace to the Lord.
Chorus: Lord have mercy.
Deacon: For the offered and consecrated Honest Gifts, let us pray to the Lord.
Chorus: Lord have mercy.
Deacon: As if our God, the Lover of Mankind, received me into His holy, and heavenly, and mental Altar, into the stench of the spiritual fragrance, He will bestow upon us Divine grace and the gift of the Holy Spirit, let us pray.
Chorus: Lord have mercy.
Deacon: Let us pray to the Lord to free us from all sorrow, anger and need.
Chorus: Lord have mercy.
Deacon: Intercede, save, have mercy and preserve us by Your grace.
Chorus: Lord have mercy.
Deacon: Every day is perfect, holy, peaceful and sinless, we ask the Lord.
Chorus: Give it, Lord.
Deacon: Angela is a peaceful, faithful mentor, guardian of our souls and bodies, we ask the Lord.
Chorus: Give it, Lord.
Deacon: We ask the Lord for forgiveness and forgiveness of our sins and transgressions.
Chorus: Give it, Lord.
Deacon: We ask the Lord for kindness and benefit to our souls and peace in the world.
Chorus: Give it, Lord.
Deacon: We ask the Lord to end the rest of our life in peace and repentance.
Chorus: Give it, Lord.
Deacon: We ask for the Christian death of our belly, painless, shameless, peaceful, and a good answer at the Last Judgment of Christ.
Chorus: Give it, Lord.
Deacon: Having asked for the union of faith and the communion of the Holy Spirit, let us commit ourselves, and each other, and our whole life to Christ our God.
Chorus: To you, Lord.
Priest: And grant us, O Master, with boldness and without condemnation to call upon You, Heavenly God the Father, and say:
Our Father/>
Choir (or all worshipers): Our Father, Who art in Heaven! Hallowed be Thy Name, Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done, as it is in heaven and on earth. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors; and do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.
Priest: For Yours is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory. Father and Son and Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages.
Chorus: Amen.
Priest: Peace to all.
Chorus: And to your spirit.
Deacon: Bow your heads to the Lord.
Chorus: To you, Lord.
Priest: By the grace, and generosity, and love for mankind of Your only begotten Son, with Him you are blessed, with Your Most Holy and Good and Life-giving Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages.
Chorus: Amen.
(The royal gates and curtain are closed)
Deacon: Let's remember.
Warmth comes.
Priest: Holy to holies.
Chorus: There is one Holy One, one Lord Jesus Christ, to the glory of God the Father. Amen.
Communion of clergy/>
The clergy receive communion at the altar.
The choir sings the communion appointed on this day by the Church Charter - a verse ending with the threefold “Alleluia”. There can be two communicants, but “Alleluia” is sung only after the second.
Involved/>
During the sacrament, a Ponamar candle is taken out and placed in front of the Royal Doors. Then the drink and prosphora are brought out for the communicants.
On Sunday: Praise the Lord from heaven, praise Him in the highest. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
On Monday: Create your angels, your spirits, and your servants, your fiery flame.
On Tuesday:
On Wednesday: I will accept the cup of salvation and call on the Name of the Lord.
On Thursday: Their messages went out into all the earth, and their words to the ends of the world.
On Friday: Thou hast wrought salvation in the midst of the earth, O God.
On Saturday: Rejoice, ye righteous, in the Lord; praise is due to the upright.
Funeral: Blessed are you who have chosen and accepted, O Lord, and their memory for generations and generations.
On the feasts of the Virgin Mary: I will accept the cup of salvation and call on the Name of the Lord.
On the feasts of the apostles: Their messages went out into all the earth, and their words to the ends of the world.
On the days of remembrance of saints: The righteous will be a righteous man for everlasting remembrance; he will not fear the hearing of evil.
The candle is taken away.
The royal gates open. The deacon, bringing out the Holy Chalice, exclaims: Come with the fear of God and faith!
(Hands the Cup to the priest.)
Chorus: Blessed is He who comes in the Name of the Lord, God the Lord and appearing to us.
[On Easter week, “Christ is Risen...” is sung instead.]
Priest (and with him everyone who wants to receive communion): I believe, Lord, and confess that You are truly the Christ, the Son of the living God, who came into the world to save sinners, from whom I am the first. I also believe that this is Your Most Pure Body, and this is Your Most Honest Blood. I pray to You: have mercy on me, and forgive me my sins, voluntary and involuntary, in word, in deed, in knowledge and ignorance, and grant me, without condemnation, to partake of Your Most Pure Mysteries, for the remission of sins, and into Eternal Life. Amen.
Thy Mystical Supper this day, O Son of God, accept me as a partaker; I will not tell your enemy the secret, nor give you a kiss like Judas, but like a thief I will confess to you: remember me, O Lord, in your kingdom.
May the communion of Your Holy Mysteries be not for judgment or condemnation for me, Lord, but for the healing of soul and body. Amen.
Communion of the laity/>
When giving communion to the laity, the priest says: The servant of God takes communion (Name) The Honest and Holy Body and Blood of our Lord and God and Savior Jesus Christ, for the forgiveness of your sins and for Eternal Life.
Choir (during communion): Receive the Body of Christ, taste the immortal Source.
[On Maundy Thursday, instead, “Thy Mysterious Supper...” is sung (this chant is given in the chapter “Chants from the services of the Lenten Triodion”); on Easter week - “Christ is risen...”]
Priest: Save, O God, Your people and bless Your inheritance.
The censer is offered at the altar.
Chorus: Having seen the true Light, having received the Heavenly Spirit, having acquired true faith, we worship the Indivisible Trinity: for she has saved us.
[Instead of “We have seen the true light...” from Easter to the giving away, “Christ is risen...” is sung; from the Ascension to the surrender - the troparion of the Ascension (these hymns are given in the chapter “Chants from the services of the Colored Triodion”); on Trinity Parental Saturday - “With the depth of wisdom...” (this troparion is given in the chapter “Chants from the services of the Colored Triodion”, in the service of Meat and Passion Parental Saturday).]
Priest: Always, now and ever and unto ages of ages.
Chorus: Amen. May our lips be filled with Thy praise, O Lord, for we sing Thy glory, for Thou hast made us worthy to partake of Thy Holy, Divine, Immortal and Life-giving Mysteries; keep us in Thy holiness, and learn Thy righteousness all day long. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
[On Maundy Thursday, instead of “Let them be fulfilled...”, “Thy Mysterious Supper...” is sung (this chant is given in the chapter “Chants from the services of the Lenten Triodion”); on Easter week - “Christ is risen...”]
Litany/>
Deacon: Forgive us for accepting the Divine, Holy, Most Pure, Immortal, Heavenly and Life-Giving, Terrible Mysteries of Christ, we worthily thank the Lord.
Chorus: Lord have mercy.
Deacon: Intercede, save, have mercy and preserve us, O God, by Your grace.
Chorus: Lord have mercy.
Deacon: The whole day is perfect, holy, peaceful and sinless, having asked, we will give ourselves, and each other, and our whole life to Christ our God.
Chorus: To you, Lord.
Priest: For You are our Sanctification, and to You we send glory, to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages,
Chorus: Amen.
Priest: We will leave in peace.
Chorus: About the name of the Lord.
Deacon: Let's pray to the Lord.
Chorus: Lord have mercy.
Prayer behind the pulpit/>
Priest (standing in front of the pulpit): Bless those who bless Thee, O Lord, and sanctify those who trust in Thee, save Thy people and bless Thy inheritance, preserve the fulfillment of Thy Church, sanctify those who love the splendor of Thy house. Glorify those with Your Divine power and do not abandon us who trust in You. Grant Thy peace, to Thy Churches, to the priests, to the army, and to all Thy people. For every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming from You, the Father of Lights. And to You we send glory, and thanksgiving, and worship, to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages.
Chorus: Amen. Blessed be the Name of the Lord from now on and forever. (Three times)
Psalm 33/>
Chorus: I will bless the Lord at all times; I will make His praise in my mouth. My soul will glory in the Lord. Let the meek ones hear and rejoice. Magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt His Name together. Seek the Lord, and hear me, and deliver me from all my sorrows. Come to Him and be enlightened, and your faces will not be ashamed. This beggar cried out, and the Lord heard and saved him from all his sorrows. The angel of the Lord will encamp around those who fear Him and deliver them. Taste and see that the Lord is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Nan. Fear the Lord, all your saints, for there is no hardship for those who fear Him. With riches you become poor and hungry: but those who seek the Lord will not be deprived of any good. Come, children, listen to me, I will teach you the fear of the Lord. Who is a person who loves life and sees good things? Keep your tongue from evil, and your lips from speaking flattery. Turn away from evil, and do good, seek peace, and marry, etc. The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous and His ears are upon their prayer. The face of the Lord is against those who do evil, to consume their memory from the earth. The righteous cried out, and the Lord heard them, and delivered them from all their sorrows. The Lord is near to those who are broken in heart, and will save those who are humble in spirit. Many are the sorrows of the righteous, and the Lord will deliver me from all of them. The Lord protects all their bones, not one of them will be broken. The death of sinners is cruel, and those who hate the righteous will sin. The Lord will deliver the souls of His servant, and all who trust in Him will not sin.
[On Easter week, “Christ is Risen...” is sung instead.]
Priest: The blessing of the Lord is upon you. By grace and love for mankind, always, now and ever and unto ages of ages.
Chorus: Amen.
Priest: Glory to Thee, Christ God, our Hope, glory to Thee.
[On Easter, on Easter week and on the celebration of Easter, instead of “Glory to Thee, Christ our God...” the clergy sing “Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down death by death,” and the choir ends: “and to those in the tombs he has given life.”
From the Week of Thomas until the celebration of Easter, the priest says: “Glory to Thee, Christ our God, Our Hope, Glory to Thee,” and the choir sings “Christ is Risen...” (Three times).]
Chorus: Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. And now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Chorus: Lord have mercy (Three times).
Chorus: Bless.
Vacation/>
The priest pronounces his dismissal. On Sunday: Risen from the dead, Christ, our true God, through the prayers of His Most Pure Mother, the glorious and all-praised Apostle saints, like our holy father John, Archbishop of Constantine, Chrysostom ( or: St. Basil the Great, Archbishop of Caesarea in Cappadocia), and St. (temple and saint, who is commemorated on this day), the saints and righteous Godfather Joachim and Anna and all the saints, will have mercy and save us, for He is Good and Lover of Mankind.
Many years/>
Chorus: Our Great Lord and Father (name), His Holiness Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus', and Our Lord, Most Reverend (Name) metropolitan ( or: archbishop, or: bishop) (his diocesan title), Our God-protected Russian state, the rector, the brethren and parishioners of this holy temple and all Orthodox Christians, Lord, save them for many years.
According to custom, before the dismissal, the priest takes the cross from the throne and after the dismissal, having crossed the people with the cross and kissing the cross himself, he gives it to those praying for kissing, and the reader reads prayers of thanksgiving; then the priest again signs the cross over the people and returns to the altar, and the royal doors and the curtain are closed.
Altar servers clean the altar, clean the censer and prepare for the evening service.
Complete collection and description: prayer to the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ for the spiritual life of a believer.
Every Orthodox Christian is obliged to pray daily, morning and evening, before and after eating food, before starting and at the end of any task.
In the morning we pray to thank God for preserving us last night, to ask for His Fatherly blessing and help for the day that has begun.
In the evening, before going to bed, we also thank the Lord for a successful day and ask him to keep us safe during the night.
In order for the work to be done successfully and safely, we must also, first of all, ask God for blessings and help for the upcoming work, and at the end thank God.
To express our feelings towards God and His saints, the Church has given us various prayers.
COMMON PRAYERS
In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
This prayer is called the initial prayer because it is said before other prayers, at the beginning of the prayers. In this prayer, we ask God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit, that is, the Most Holy Trinity, to invisibly bless us for the upcoming work in His name.
This prayer is said at the beginning of every task.
Have mercy - means be merciful, forgive. This prayer is one of the oldest and common to all Christians. Pronounced when we remember our sins. For the glory of the Holy Trinity, this prayer is said three times. It is pronounced 12 times, asking God for a blessing for every hour of the day and night; 40 times, for the sanctification of our entire life.
A prayer is said at the end of the task as a sign of gratitude to God for His mercies.
PRAYER TO THE LORD JESUS
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, prayers for the sake of Your Most Pure Mother and all the saints, have mercy on us. Amen.
Realizing our sinfulness and not relying on the power of our prayers, in this prayer we ask you to pray for us sinners, before our Savior, all the saints and the Mother of God, who has the special grace to save us sinners through Her intercession for us before Her Son.
PRAYER TO THE HOLY SPIRIT
Heavenly King, Comforter, Soul of truth, who is everywhere and fulfills everything, treasure of good things and Giver of life, come and dwell in us, and cleanse us from all filth, and save, O Good One, our souls.
In this prayer we pray to the Holy Spirit, the third Person of the Holy Trinity.
PRAYERS TO THE HOLY TRINITY
Glory to the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.
We do not ask God for anything in this prayer, but only glorify Him, who appeared to people in three Persons: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, to whom now and forever belongs the same honor of glorification.
Most Holy Trinity, have mercy on us; Lord, cleanse our sins; Master, forgive our iniquities; Holy One, visit and heal our infirmities, for Thy name's sake.
This prayer is one of petition. In it we turn first to all three Persons together, and then to each Person of the Trinity separately: to God the Father, so that He may cleanse our sins; to God the Son, so that He may forgive our iniquities; to God the Holy Spirit, so that He may visit and heal our infirmities.
LORD'S PRAYER
Our Father, who art in heaven!
2. Thy kingdom come.
3. Thy will be done as it is in heaven and on earth.
4. Give us this day our daily bread.
5. And forgive us our debts, just as we forgive our debtors.
6. And do not lead us into temptation.
7. But deliver us from evil.
For Yours is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
This prayer is called the Lord’s Prayer because the Lord Jesus Christ Himself gave it to His disciples when they asked Him to teach them how to pray. Therefore, this prayer is the most important prayer of all. In this prayer we turn to God the Father, the first Person of the Holy Trinity.
PRAYERS OF THE MOTHER OF GOD
Virgin Mary, Rejoice, Blessed Mary, the Lord is with You, blessed are You among women, and blessed is the fruit of Your womb, for You have given birth to the Savior of our souls.
This prayer is to the Most Holy Theotokos, whom we call grace-filled, that is, filled with the grace of the Holy Spirit, and blessed of all women, because our Savior Jesus Christ, the Son of God, was pleased, or desired, to be born from Her.
It is worthy to eat as truly to bless Thee, Theotokos, ever-blessed and most immaculate and Mother of our God. We magnify You, the most honorable cherub and the most glorious seraphim without comparison, who gave birth to God the Word without corruption, the real Mother of God.
In this prayer we praise the Mother of God, as the Mother of our God, always blessed and completely immaculate, and we magnify Her, saying that with Her honor and glory She surpasses the highest angels: the cherubim and seraphim, that is, the Mother of God in her perfections stands above all - not only people, but also holy angels. Without illness, she miraculously gave birth to Jesus Christ from the Holy Spirit, who, having become man from Her, is at the same time the Son of God who came down from heaven, and therefore She is the true Mother of God.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us!
In this prayer, we ask the Mother of God to save us sinners with Her holy prayers before Her Son and our God.
PRAYER TO THE GUARDIAN ANGEL
Angel of God, my guardian, holy and, given to me from God from heaven, I diligently pray to you: enlighten me today, and save me from all evil, guide me to good deeds and direct me on the path of salvation. Amen.
At baptism, God gives every Christian a Guardian Angel, who invisibly protects a person from all evil. Every day we must ask the angel to protect and have mercy on us.
PRAYER TO THE SAINT
Pray to God for me, holy (holy) Name, as I diligently resort to you, a quick helper and a prayer book (a quick helper and a prayer book) for my soul.
Every Christian, as soon as he is born into the light of God, at holy baptism, is given a saint as a helper and patron by the Holy Church. He takes care of the newborn like the most loving mother, and protects him from all the troubles and misfortunes that a person encounters on earth.
It is necessary to know the day of remembrance in the year of your saint (your name day), to know the life of this saint. On his name day, you need to glorify him with prayer in church and take holy communion.
PRAYER FOR THE LIVING
Save, Lord, and have mercy on my spiritual father Name, my parents names, relatives, mentors and benefactors and all Orthodox Christians.
We must think not only about ourselves, but also about other people, love them and pray to God for them, because we are all children of one Heavenly Father. Such prayers are useful not only for those for whom we pray, but also for ourselves, since we thereby show love for them. And the Lord told us that without love no one can be children of God.
PRAYER FOR THE DEAD
Rest, O Lord, the souls of your departed servants Names and all my deceased relatives and benefactors, and forgive them all their sins, voluntary and involuntary, and grant them the kingdom of heaven.
MORNING PRAYER
To You, Master who loves mankind, having risen from sleep, I come running, and I strive for Your works with Your mercy, and I pray to You: help me at all times in every thing, and deliver me from all worldly evil things and the devil’s haste, and save me, and bring us into Your eternal kingdom. For You are my Creator and the Provider and Giver of every good thing, in You are all my hope, and I send up glory to You now, and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.
EVENING PRAYER
Lord our God, who have sinned in these days in word, deed and thought, as he is good and a lover of mankind, forgive me; grant me peaceful sleep and serenity; Send Thy guardian angel to cover and keep me from all evil; for You are the guardian of our souls and bodies, and to You we send glory to the Father, and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.
YOUR PRAYER
Send us your prayers, we will add them to our collection of Orthodox prayers. Prayers sent by site visitors
Orthodox icons and prayers
Information site about icons, prayers, Orthodox traditions.
Prayer to the Lord Jesus Christ
"Save me, God!". Thank you for visiting our website, before you start studying the information, we ask you to subscribe to our VKontakte group Prayers for every day. Also visit our page on Odnoklassniki and subscribe to her Prayers for every day Odnoklassniki. "God bless you!".
Often we can hear prayers to the Lord Jesus Christ. He is considered the Savior of mankind and the only begotten Son of God. He was sent into our world through the favor of his Father God. Christ came and became a man in order to save sinful people. It was He who was given the mission of guiding the human race on the true path.
His examples and words helped to recognize the foundations of righteous life and faith, which would subsequently lead them to an immortal and blessed life, as well as to gain the right to bear the title of children of God.
Our Savior
In order to atone for our sins, He had to be executed on the cross and die for it, and to defeat death, He had to be resurrected on the third day. Only after this did he ascend to heaven to His Father, where he remains as the God-man.
Jesus Christ is considered the founder of the Kingdom of God, which is called the Church. It is there that many believers can find spiritual peace, be saved from various misfortunes, and also strengthen their faith. Many believers believe that before the end of the world, Christ will descend to earth again in order to judge the living and the dead. According to the prediction, after this there will come paradise, the Kingdom of His Glory, where all the saved will be illuminated with eternal joy.
All of His educational activities and life were aimed at cultivating new spiritual principles and dogmas in human life. In them He laid down such concepts as:
- holiness,
- love for neighbors and the Lord,
- pure faith
- the desire for moral improvement.
He also introduced certain commandments into the lives of people, following which one can achieve the grace of God. He addressed people with requests that we build our lives and religious worldview based on these foundations.
As the history of Christianity shows, not all nations and people manage to achieve and follow the high spiritual principles of Holy Scripture. To establish the Orthodox faith, some sometimes had to sacrifice their lives. And faith itself was affirmed, going through the thorny paths of its formation.
Some people have read the Gospel, but without much desire to change their hearts. It also happened that it was rejected, or even persecuted. But those who nevertheless accepted the fundamentals of this scripture into their souls brought into their lives such humane concepts as:
Sometimes replacing Gospel principles with others can lead to the most terrible destructive consequences. Knowing a large number of examples from history, Christians should clearly understand that only in the teachings of Christ can one find the key to solving all social and family problems.
Prayers to Jesus
If we build our lives on the commandments of Christ, then our faith in the Kingdom of the Lord will triumph. This is why we offer our prayers to Him. There are a large number of them and each of them carries a certain meaning.
For example, the prayer to the Lord God Jesus Christ is considered the most important prayer that everyone should know. These are the words that are taught from childhood to turn to God. There is something hidden and personal in it. It carries within itself the character of a special conversation with the Lord. Many believers note that after reading it they become more comfortable and calm, as it carries sublimity and purity.
“Our Father, who art in heaven! Hallowed be Thy name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, as it is in heaven and on earth. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our debts, just as we forgive our debtors; and do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit forever. Amen".
Prayer “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God”
The full prayer “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner,” is often used by deeply religious Orthodox people. And for frequent repetition of these words, you can use a short form of prayer: “Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me.”
It is referred to as unceasing prayer. It also does not have a specific time for pronunciation. It is considered the perfect prayer, since it contains the basic truths of our salvation. It contains two main aspects of the Christian faith:
- In our conversion, we direct our petitions to the holiness, love and glory of the Lord
- But in the words “have mercy on me,” we admit our sinfulness and ask for repentance.
Prayer of repentance to Jesus Christ
A prayer of repentance is usually called words addressed to God by a person who asks for forgiveness of his sins and realizes his need for a Savior. By itself it will not bring you salvation.
To do this, there must be sincere repentance, the need for salvation and an understanding of one’s sinfulness. The repentant prayer to the Lord Jesus Christ should not contain any specific “magic” words. The most important thing is that it comes from a pure heart. If you feel that you need to repent, you can use these words:
“God, I know that I have sinned against You. I understand that I deserve to bear the consequences of my sin, but I believe in Jesus Christ as my Savior. I believe that His death and resurrection provided me with forgiveness. I trust Jesus, and Him alone, as my personal Lord and Savior. Thank You, Lord, for saving and forgiving me! Amen!"
They often pray to Jesus Christ for help. There are various situations in life when we need help. And we, willy-nilly, turn our words to something Higher. So there is a definite prayer to the Lord for help.
“In the hand of Your great mercy, O my God, I entrust my soul and body, my feelings and words, my advice and thoughts, my deeds and all my movements of body and soul. My entry and exit, my faith and life, the course and end of my life, the day and hour of my breathing, my repose, the repose of my soul and body. But You, O Most Merciful God, invincible to the sins of the whole world, kindly, kindly Lord, accept me more than all sinners in the hand of Your protection and deliver from all evil, cleanse my many iniquities, grant correction to my evil and wretched life and from Always delight me in the coming cruel falls of sin, and in no way will I anger Your love for mankind, with which you cover my weakness from demons, passions and evil people. Forbid the enemy, visible and invisible, guiding me along the saved path, bring me to You, my refuge and the land of my desires. Grant me a Christian end, unashamed, peaceful, keep me from the airy spirits of malice, at Your Last Judgment be merciful to Your servant and number me at the right hand of Your blessed sheep, and with them I will glorify You, my Creator, forever. Amen."
What could be more valuable for parents? Of course, these are their children. They often say that a mother’s prayer can reach you from the bottom of the sea. It is she who carries incredible power and does not go unheard. By turning her to the Lord, you are asking for the blessing and protection of your child.
So, there are several prayers to Jesus Christ for children, here are some of them.
Lord, You alone weigh everything, you can do everything, and you want everyone to be saved and to come to the mind of Truth. Enlighten my children (names) with the knowledge of Thy truth and Thy Holy will and strengthen them to walk according to Thy commandments and have mercy on me, a sinner.
Master, Lord Almighty, be merciful to my children, lead them to faith and salvation, keep them under Your roof, cover them from all evil lust, drive away from them every enemy and adversary, open the ears and eyes of their hearts, grant tenderness and humility to their hearts their.
Prayer of father and mother for children
Holy Father, Eternal God, from You comes every gift or every good. I diligently pray to You for the children whom Your grace has given me. You gave them life, revived them with an immortal soul, revived them with holy baptism, so that in accordance with Your will they would inherit the Kingdom of Heaven, preserve them according to Your goodness until the end of their lives. Sanctify them with Your truth, may Your name be hallowed in them. Help me, by Your grace, to educate them for the glory of Your name and for the benefit of others, give me the necessary means for this: patience and strength. Lord, enlighten them with the light of Your Wisdom, may they love You with all their soul, with all their thoughts, plant in their hearts fear and disgust from all lawlessness, may they walk in Your commandments, adorn their souls with chastity, hard work, patience, honesty, protect them with truth from slander , vanity, abomination, sprinkle with the dew of Thy grace, that they may prosper in virtues and holiness, and may they grow in Thy good will, in love and piety. May the Guardian Angel always be with them and protect their youth from vain thoughts, from the temptations of this world and from all evil slander. If, when they sin before You, Lord, do not turn Your face away from them, but be merciful to them, arouse repentance in their hearts according to the multitude of Your bounties, cleanse their sins and do not deprive Your blessings, but give them everything necessary for their salvation, preserving them from all illness, danger, troubles and sorrows, overshadowing them with Your mercy all the days of this life. God, I pray to You, give me joy and joy about my children and grant me the ability to appear with them at Your Last Judgment, with shameless boldness to say: “Here I am and the children whom You gave me, Lord. Amen". Let us glorify Your All-Holy Name, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Many clergy say that sometimes the words of the prayer themselves are not important, but what matters is with what thoughts you pronounce them. If the words come from a pure heart and with sincere faith, then they will definitely be heard.
The Lord is always with you!
Watch the video prayer for help to Jesus Christ our Lord:
Prayer to the Lord God
Prayer to the Lord God can work real miracles in earthly life. Prayer can heal, with its help you can take the right path in life, prayer helps you become happy, it is a reliable protection against the negative influence of unkind people.
The most powerful prayers to the Lord God for every need
There are many powerful prayers to the Lord God. They can be universal, but some of them can only be used in specific cases.
Prayer for health, for healing of the sick
Prayer to the Lord God for the health of a sick person has great power. In this case, you can pray not only in church, but also at home. You can offer a prayer for health and healing not only for yourself, but also for another person.
The main thing is to do this sincerely and with faith that God will definitely hear you:
Prayer before surgery
Before any operation, prayer to the Lord God is mandatory for every believer. First of all, it will allow you to calm down and instill hope for a successful outcome. One of the most powerful is the short prayer below. It can be started within a few days before surgery, as well as immediately before surgery.
Due to its simplicity, the prayer text is very easy to remember; it reads as follows:
Mother's prayer for children
Everyone knows that a mother’s prayer is particularly powerful. It is able to protect a child, regardless of his age, from any misfortunes and diseases. It is important to pray for your children every day, but you can do this at any time. A mother’s sincere prayer to the Lord God will definitely be heard and help for the child will come at the right time.
For daily prayer for children, you can use the following prayer:
Prayer for work
Good work is an important condition for a person’s well-being and success in modern society. Therefore, it is understandable that each of us dreams of receiving a profitable offer, but, unfortunately, this is not always possible. Profitable vacancies are sold out very quickly. In addition, the realities of our lives are such that it is easier to lose a job than to find one.
A strong prayer to the Lord God can help you find a good job. But it should be remembered that it will be heard only if there is sincere faith in the soul of the praying person, and he is confident that his prayer will be heard.
You need to retire to a separate room, light a church candle and sit in front of the icon of Jesus Christ. First you should read the Lord's Prayer.
And then you need to pray using the following prayer appeal:
It is very important, after reading such a prayer, to repent of your known sins, and also to ask God for forgiveness for the fact that you may have committed unknown sinful acts out of your ignorance. This can be done in any form. The main thing is that all words of prayer are sincere and come from the depths of the soul.
Prayer for Marriage
Prayer for marriage is a very important prayer request. This is due to the fact that it is aimed not only at the organization of an individual destiny, but at the general well-being of the family and its prolongation.
Prayer from evil and enemies
The modern world is incredibly cruel. You can often encounter envy and hatred there. This kind of negativity can cause great harm. Therefore, the question of how to protect yourself with the help of prayer interests many.
A powerful prayer goes like this:
Listen to the prayer “Bless the Lord, my soul”:
Prayers of thanksgiving to the glory of the Lord for help and intercession
It is imperative to thank God through prayers for his help and intercession. For this purpose, special prayers of thanks are used.
Text of thanksgiving prayer
You can thank the Lord at any time with these simple prayer words:
What is the essence of the prayer of gratitude?
Gratitude expressed to the Almighty in a prayer text is like a ray of light that drives out darkness from the soul. You can not only pray yourself, but also order a thanksgiving prayer service in the temple.
A prayer of thanksgiving always has a cleansing character. After it, a person gets rid of anger and hatred. With a prayer of gratitude, the believer always affirms that he has learned the lessons sent down by the Lord and made the right conclusions. In a prayer text with a gratitude focus, attention is always focused on the fact that a person thanks God for the gift of life and the world around him that God created.
Thankful prayer texts are offered not only for the generosity received in life, health and well-being. You should definitely give thanks for God’s wrath and possible punishment for your sins. It should be understood that the sorrows of life sent by God are a test for a person, but it always opens the way to the salvation of the soul.
Which saints are praised?
Prayers of thanksgiving are read to various saints. In this case, you need to listen to your intuition to choose the right prayer. Prayers to the Guardian Angel are especially popular.
One such prayer goes like this:
Very often prayers of thanks are read to the Most Holy Theotokos and St. Nicholas the Wonderworker. It should be understood that before making a request or prayer to any of the Saints, it is imperative to offer a prayer of gratitude.
Repentant prayer to our Lord Jesus Christ
Not a single person on earth can consider himself absolutely sinless. The Bible says that all people on earth are sinners, and each of us must admit this. Therefore, it is imperative that God forgive one’s known and unknown sins. It is very important to remember that prayer of repentance must come from the depths of the soul.
Any prayer of repentance directed to the Lord is essentially a humble repentance for what has been done. Our life is inevitably filled with sin and it is because of this that we deserve eternal punishment. But God is Merciful, so we can ask for repentance, after which he will forgive our sins and give us hope for the Kingdom of Heaven.
Any prayer of repentance always contains confirmation that we realize that God loves people, because he is their Creator. As proof, He sent His Son Jesus Christ to earth, who revealed the truth to humanity. Having lived a sinless life, Jesus experienced terrible torment and died crucified on the cross, having suffered punishment for all the sins of people.
Prayer for forgiveness of your sins
The best prayer of repentance is the one that is filled with sincerity and comes from the depths of the soul. At the moment of repentance, a person must necessarily realize his sinfulness and have spiritual hope that all sins will be forgiven by the All-Merciful Lord. You can turn to God with repentance in your own words; special words are not required. You just need to ask the Lord to forgive you your sins. If this is a sincere wish, then the Almighty will definitely hear you.
One of the most powerful prayers is the following:
Glorification of Jesus Christ
In the final part of the teaching on kenosis, the Apostle Paul points to the proper glorification of the Son, who suffered exhaustion and humiliation: “Therefore God also highly exalted Him and gave Him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue should confess, that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Phil. 2:9-11).
Resurrection is another stage of the saving action of the Word, which condescended to human weakness. “Glory transforms everything human in Christ, including the body; and this human Christ receives the radiance of Glory, ascending to the Father - God, like Christ Himself” Subiri Xavier. Supernatural being: God and deification in the theology of St. Pavel // Man. - M., 2001,
No. 1, 58. 99.. In another letter, the Apostle Paul says affirmatively: “He sits at the right hand of God” (Col. 3:1). It is interesting that Glory is expressed by the apostle in giving Him a new name. This was also natural for the Old Testament, for example, the case of Abraham and Jacob. But what new name could the Creator of the entire Universe receive?
These are the names Milito of Sardis lists in his work “on Easter”:
"Which is everything:
Because He judges is the Law;
Because the Word teaches;
Because it is Grace that saves;
Because the Father gives birth;
Because the Son is born;
Because the Sheep suffers;
Since it is a Man who is buried;
Because God is resurrected
This is Jesus Christ" St. Milliton of Sardis About Easter. / Writings of Ancient Christian Apologists. - St. Petersburg, 1999, 522..
“This name is Son,” says Saint Theophylact of Bulgaria, “this name is God; because this Man is the Son of God, just as the Archangel said: “And the Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God” (Luke 1:35)” Theophylact of Bulgaria, Blessed. “Blagovestnik” - M., 2002. T3, 512..
Obviously this name was, first of all, new for all rational creatures, for the sake of which He suffered and died. “The new name is Lord (Greek “kyrios”), by which the name Yahweh is translated in the Septuagint. (“Kyrios” is the official title of the Roman emperors) “This name was on the lips of Peter after the miracle of Pentecost” Ulyakhin Valentin priest. Holy Scripture of the New Testament. Apostolic/Orthodox St. Tikhonovsky Humanitarian University. - M., 2006, 133.. “Therefore, all the house of Israel know surely that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, Lord (kyrios) and Christ” (Acts 2:36).
St. Gregory of Nyssa explains: “The divine nature cannot be embraced by a name, yet through dissolution two became one. Therefore, God is called from human [nature by a borrowed name] - for before the name of Jesus every knee will bow - and man becomes above every name." Biblical commentaries of the Fathers of the Church and other authors of the 1st - 8th centuries. New Testament. Volume VIII: Epistles to the Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians / Trans. from English, Greek, Latin, Syriac Ed. Mark J. Edwards / Russian Izaniye ed. K.K. Gavrilkina. - Tver, “Hermeneutics”, 2005, 281.. For if we are united with Him by the likeness of His death, then we must be united by the likeness of the Resurrection. (Rom. 6:4-5). To put on Christ through imitation of Him in humility means to expect to meet the Lord, just as the Apostle Paul expected when he said: “...for me to live is Christ, and to die is gain” (Phil.: 1:21). The nature of collaboration in the work of salvation, based on the free will of man, presupposes a meeting of the kenosis of the Lord Jesus Christ with the personal kenosis of the fallen creation. In this, the Apostle Paul reveals the antinomy of actual and potential soteriology. “From now on, Christ can live and act in our very mortal bodies, change them and make them His members. But on the other hand, we are only waiting for our salvation, since only at the second coming the Spirit, whom we received by accepting Christ... will fully restore His shining image in us. And in this rebirth of the whole person, spirit, soul and body will be transformed, through which we acquire complete likeness to God, i.e. Let us become Gods by grace” Konstantin Polskov, deacon. Fulfillment and aspiration. About one of the aspects of the theology of the Apostle Paul. // Theological Collection. - M., 1999. issue III, 68.. The Apostle Paul knew from his personal experience how to reliably rely on the Divine power of Christ. “He was certified in the objectivity of his life experience by the Lord Himself, who said to Him: “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Cor. 12:9-10)” Gumilyovsky I. Fr. The teaching of St. Paul the Apostle on the mental and spiritual
person. - K.: “Prologue”, 2004.. An interesting conclusion is made by Bishop Cassian (Bezobrazov) regarding the purpose for which the Apostle Paul reveals the doctrine of kenosis. “Paul calls his readers to stand in goodness and, above all, to complete unanimity and humility before each other amid the suffering that befalls them” Cassian (Bezobrazov), bishop. Christ and the first Christian generation. 4th ed. Corrected and expanded. - M.: St. Tikhon's Theological Institute; Russian way, 2001, 308.. So the glorification of the Lord can be understood as an act that has already been accomplished, since everything continues in the good deeds of His faithful children, His flock!
“There are two sides to the sacrament of the cross. This is at once both the sacrament of sorrow and the sacrament of joy - the sacrament of shame and glory” Florovsky G., priest. Dogma and history. - M.: Publishing house of the Holy Vladimir Brotherhood, 1998, 205.. Priest Davydenkov sums it up by saying that “death on the cross is the completion of kenosis” Davydenkov O., priest. Dogmatic Theology: study. allowance. - M., 2006, 311.. Divine Wisdom expresses itself in the fact that the weak is saved by the strong” Taube M.A., prof. Agrafa. About the sayings of Jesus Christ not recorded in the Gospel. - M., 2007, 119. - this saying was preserved in the “rules of St. apostles of the late 3rd century. This is truly worthy of the highest glory and worship of “all creatures” Interpretation of the messages of St. Apostle Paul according to the works of St. Theophan the Recluse. - M.: “Russian Chronograph”, 2002, 531..
Archimandrite Ianuarius (Ivlev) considers the historical existence of the Word (kenotic) in connection with church history and comes to the conclusion that “the history of Christ’s bodily life on earth becomes a paradigm for the history of the Church itself. Since Christ was faithful, obedient to God (until death on the cross - Phil. 2:8), the saving truth of God appeared and was revealed in history...” Ianuarius (Ivlev), archimandrite. Church of Christ in the provisions of St. ap. Pavel // Alpha and Omega. - M., 2004, No. 1 (39), 20.. And prof. G. Harbsmeier speaks about it this way: “...” new creation” covers the entire world created by God. It pursues the goal that “every knee should bow and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord” (Phil.: 2, 10-11) Harbsmeyer G., prof., dr. God and man: what has already been accomplished in the new creation and what should be expected. // ZhMP - M., 1974, No. 6, 50..
The Apostle Paul was able to reveal with amazing depth in his preaching of the Gospel the teaching about the humble Lord, about Jesus Christ, who conquered the world. This was recognized not only by believers at all times, but also by people close to the faith, and even by fighters against God. Catholic priest C. Kavaliauskas points out the meaning of the kenotic passage in the Epistle to the Philippians as follows: “St. Paul perceived Jesus as a function, as a Person, whose task he expressed with the words: “He humbled himself, taking the form of a slave...” - and further, “We We admire the nonlinear Jesus, who eternally calls not for cliches, not for accounting, but for the creativity of new social forms, new communication of brothers in the Church, for reasonable piety.” Kavaliauskas Ch. Nonlinear Jesus // Science and Religion. - M., 1991, No. 8, 19-21..
And here is what one of our contemporary writes about the Apostle Paul: “This man is huge. He is devoted to Christ. Aposto Hisfurio - Sus (Latin: Furious Apostle). His fire-breathing faith is amazing. His contradictions baffle anyone... He can be called the architect of Christianity. V. Reimarus calls him the discoverer of Christianity in the 18th century, and the founder of Christianity in the 19th century. Nietzsche" Deco A. Roman citizen from a Cilician city // Science and religion. - M., 2008, No. 8, 36,37.. And yet, the more faithful should recognize the holy apostle as the “Chosen Vessel of God,” who was able to testify with his life to the Love that came from heaven to earth for the sake of the salvation of the whole world. This is kenosis - the fruit of Love, the crown of House-Building.
1. In explaining the phrase “in the image of God” (Phil.: 2,6), a good help for studying this issue is to turn to the original language of the apostolic epistle, that is, to the ancient Greek language. “Image” (Greek “Morphy”) means one that is identical to the prototype; it emphasizes internal unity. The expression “in the image of God” (Phil.:2:6) should apply to Christ both before and after His incarnation, since His Divinity always remained unchanged.
2. The method of negative interpretation (Phil.: 2.6) has become more widespread among exegetes. Its essence was as follows: the words of the apostle “he did not consider it robbery” were understood as something that should be stolen, and since the Lord did not strive for this, it means that he always had it, that is, he was the true God.
3. The method of positive interpretation is well expressed by Fr. Pavel Florensky. The idea was that “admiration” (in Slavic) could mean ascension into the heavenly world through the effort of personal high feat, which the Savior did not need. Therefore, the apostle puts a negation before this word: “not by the rapture of Nepschev...” (Phil. 2:6).
4. The kenosis of the Lord Jesus Christ was concluded in His historical existence, starting from the day of “birth”, the Incarnation of God, and right up to the last suffering and Sacrifice of the Savior on the cross. The goals of the Incarnation were fully consistent with the Divine Economy, based on the great love of God for people. The glorification of the Savior became the key to the hope of the righteous.
John 21.7 “Then the disciple whom Jesus loved
says to Peter, “It is the Lord.”
The word "Lord" (Hebrew Adonai) appears frequently in the Bible and corresponds to the Hebrew Jehovah (Eternal) and Adon (Lord). This word in the Greek text of the New Testament corresponds to "Kyrios", which refers to both God the Father and the Son. Jesus is Lord is one of the oldest Christian creeds. This is reflected in various elements of Christian worship. According to Ap. Paul, which could relate to the rite of baptism, “if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, ... you will be saved” (Rom. 10.9). So, the first Christians had to confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. Phil.2.10,11 “That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of the Father.” The meaning of the expression “Lord Jesus Christ to the glory of God the Father” is this: God’s greatness was revealed to people through Christ and at the same time shines in the face of Christ. Thus God the Father is glorified in His Son. Jesus can only be called Lord under the influence of the Holy Spirit. 1 Corinthians 12.3 “Therefore I tell you, no one speaking by the Spirit of God will pronounce anathema against Jesus; and no one can call Jesus Lord except by the Holy Spirit.” It is important to note that in the New Testament only the glorified Christ is called Lord, i.e. His lordship is recognized by the community of believers because He is glorified. It does not follow from this that Jesus Christ was not Lord during the years of his earthly ministry and before that. Even His enemies recognized that He acted and spoke on behalf of the Old Testament Lord. This is clearly proven in Isaiah 48.16 and in the previous and subsequent chapters of this book.
The title “Lord” addressed to the glorified Christ implies, first of all, His present work. The life of the Christian community is carried out under His dominion. This work can also be seen through the action of the Holy Spirit. The variety of gifts and ministries to believers is exclusively the work of the Lord Jesus (1 Cor. 12.4-5). The fact that the Church is under the authority of Christ is reflected in St. Paul also in the images of “head” and “body”. The head strengthens the body and guides along the path of fulfilling the divine plan. The entire universe is also under His dominion. Eternally begotten, Jesus has sovereignty over creation. For it was created through Him and is governed by Him (Col. 1.15-16; Heb. 1.3).
There is no other name that so unites some people, while at the same time causing hatred among others. Week after week, all over the face of the earth, those who love Christ gather to glorify and magnify His name. For them, this name is synonymous with love, joy, hope and forgiveness. Why does this name divide people so much? Why do some treat the name of Christ with contempt, while others extol it above all other names? Undoubtedly, some feel uncomfortable at the mention of the name of Christ because they do not want to hear about their sins. Jesus is “the way and the truth and the life” (John 14.6). He saves us from our sins. And those who refuse to ask for forgiveness for their sins cannot possibly love the name of Christ. But it is still “above every name.” And one day the day will come when “every tongue will confess Jesus Christ as Lord” (Phil. 2:9,11). Let us glorify God for Him!
When Christ entered Jerusalem in the last week (Palm Sunday), many saw Him as Lord. He sent his disciples for a colt and ordered them to tell the animal’s owners: “The Lord needs him” (Luke 19.31). Everyone who believes in Him is a subject of His Kingdom. If we acknowledge Christ as the Lord of our lives, we adore His royal dignity and live in obedience to Him. We cannot live like one man lived who called himself a Christian, but continued to use drugs and live in adultery. When his pastor told him this, he replied, “Don’t worry, Pastor. Everything is fine. I'm just a bad Christian." This is not even normal at all. This cannot be the norm for a person who claims to follow Christ. So let’s check whether we are Christians only in words or also in our deeds.
The question often occurred to me: “How many were there who shouted on Palm Sunday: “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord!” (Luke 19.38), and a few days later “Crucify Him!” After all, there were people who were very upset and even angry that Christ did not use His superhuman power to establish His Kingdom on earth. Can you think of a better opportunity? All the people will follow You, just become a king. Many Jews did not understand that Christ can reign under one single condition - if people accept Him with their hearts. And the people of Israel needed not to get rid of Caesar, but to get rid of their pride - to stop considering themselves righteous, to stop rebelling against God. Today, too, Christ does not offer us deliverance from everyday hardships, a cure for all diseases, and does not promise that we will shovel money. What He offered then, He offers today: He offers Himself as a sacrifice for our sins and calls us to serve Him. And if we accept His offer, we will not regret it.
After His resurrection, the Lord Jesus on the shore of Lake Tiberias predicted the apostle. Peter's martyrdom for Him. Peter accepted his fate resignedly. However, then he inquired about the future ap. John (John 21:21). We can only guess why he asked this. Was it brotherly participation? Or carnal curiosity? Or maybe indignation, since John was not facing martyrdom? Whatever Peter's motives, Christ responded with words that apply not only to Peter, but to every follower of the Lord. John 21.22 “If I want him to remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow Me." With these words, the Lord expressed the most important truth: “Do not worry too much about what happens to this or that person. Your task is to follow Me faithfully.”
The Christian's writing career lasted three decades. She wrote 12 books and received 16 honorary degrees. She died of cancer. Shortly before her death, in an interview with a television company, she said that the number of books published meant little to her. She considered her three children to be her main legacy. She said, “If I was a bad mother to them, then everything else I did was worthless.” Although she achieved success, fame and love among millions of readers, she understood that her main priority was taking care of her children. Of course, no parent has a guarantee that his children will be obedient and turn to God. However, every father and mother should think about the words of this writer. The main efforts should be directed towards the spiritual, mental and physical improvement of our children. Parents are responsible for them before God. They must lead them to the Savior. Let us remember the words of the psalmist David: Ps.33.12 “Come, children, listen to me: I will teach you the fear of the Lord.” Parents are also obliged to pray for their children and be an example of holy life for them. Sometimes it's a whole battle. This often requires a lot of time and effort. But the price is the soul of a child, more expensive than all costs. Let them hear the news from their parents about the One who gave them to them.
None of us like it if someone starts to control our lives. Even if these instructions are not bad, there may still come a time when we are ordered to do something that we do not like, or are placed in conditions that are not the best. This can manifest itself in our trust in God. The fear of putting their lives in His hands causes some people to push away God's support and help. But such thinking is wrong. In the 23rd Psalm, David says: Ps. 23.1 “The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness of it, the world and everything that lives in it.” We should not think that only the heavens and the numerous inhabitants of the upper world belong to the Lord. And the earth, being an insignificant and small part of creation and being far from the royal palace in heaven, remains neglected and uninteresting to God. When God gave the land to people, He at the same time decided to retain the right of ownership and transferred it to them as temporary residents. All parts and regions of the earth belong to the Lord. Everything is under His watchful eye and in His hand. So that wherever a person goes, he can console himself that God is with him. What is ours in the eyes of the world is not so in the light of His rights. We ourselves - our bodies and our souls - do not belong to ourselves, for God is the Creator of our bodies and the Father of our spirit. Even those people who do not know Him and are not adopted by Him belong to Him. All this can be said about the sovereignty of Christ as Mediator. God the Father loves the Son and has given everything into His hands, including power over all people. This is a good explanation why we should be happy with our lot in this world and not envy others. God gives more to some and less to others, as He pleases. Therefore, the only thing a reasonable person can do is to turn his heart to the Lord Jesus, acknowledging His authority and trusting in His care.
The pastor preached a sermon about how everything needs to be “laid on the altar,” i.e. devote yourself to Christ. After the service, an elderly farmer approached him. He talked about his eight cows, which had all recently died. This meant huge damage, but the main difficulty for the farmer was to accept what happened as God's will. At the end he said: “Thanks to your preaching, I have found peace in my heart. I laid my cows on the altar." The lordship of Christ touches every area, every relationship, every concern of our lives. If we truly submit to Him, we will look upon any loss as returning to God what is rightfully His. When God told Abraham to sacrifice his son Isaac, it looked like He was betraying His own intentions. After all, Isaac was the son of promise, in which God promised to bless all the tribes of the earth. But Abraham trusted God and, not yet knowing what would happen, said to his son: Gen. 22.8 “God will provide for Himself a lamb for a burnt offering.” The same applies to us. Can we trust God with everything: our income, work, health, family? By dedicating every day of our lives to Him and thanking Him for everything, we can withstand any test.
When we come to Christ by faith, we receive certain social obligations. If we believe that He rules history as well as our lives, then we should not focus only on our own world, forgetting about the people around us. Is it right for us to seek God's will regarding moving to another city or getting married, but never considering His will regarding the homeless, the rights of unborn children, or drug addicts? Caring for one's own life without caring for the public is too limited and insufficient. On the other hand, getting involved in social issues without dedication to God is like hopping on one leg. If we are dedicated to business but not dedicated to Christ, then we have traded the power of God for the power of politics. Unbelieving people do not accept the lordship of Christ in their lives. But for true Christians who forget that His Lordship extends to the outer world, there can be no excuse.
There are many things that motivate Christians to faithfully serve the Lord. One of them is heavenly reward. Let us not forget that the rewards called “crowns” in the New Testament will be received by those who have accepted the gift of eternal life. Someone may be thinking: “Why do I need a reward? I'm not working for her. And there will be no showcases in heaven where we can put our trophies and boast about them.” Redeemed sinners will consider it their highest joy to lay down their crowns before the throne of the Lord and say: Rev. 4.11 “Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power.”
Lord! Please help us so that we too can lay our rewards at Your feet!
Pastor Zoltan Z. Tyryk
Prayer. God and Father! We thank You that Your Only Begotten Son Jesus Christ is our Lord. Please help us find our path in life and follow our Savior and Lord. Help us when we don't know what to do. Help even more when we know what to do but don’t want to. May our soul never cling to anything that is not pleasing to You. Make us realize that if we want to walk in God's way, the Lord Jesus must guide our hearts. Let us realize that He is our King, recognize His sovereignty, and have the desire to work to do His will. We ask, Lord Jesus, take possession of us, build Your temple in our hearts and sit on the throne. Give us confidence that we will not wish for it if we serve You. Help us give You the right to control everything in our lives, thank You for everything, trust You and live for You. We prayed in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
The Lord Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of the Father.“Therefore God has highly exalted Him and given Him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue should confess that the Lord Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father (more precisely: that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father)" (Phil 2 - 9..11).
It should be the desire of God's people (though not having achieved an absolute and perfect knowledge of Him on this earth) to demonstrate everywhere the fact that Jesus of Nazareth, whom man despised and rejected, IS the LORD OF ALL, who is at the right hand of God. It was this position that God gave to the Nazarene, for whom there was no place here except on the cross. His first coming showed that for the Righteous One - who showed the image of God in weakness, and lived among people, and they did not accept Him - there is not a single place on this earth. It won't always be like this!
God is bringing us to a time when only one name will be known - Jesus. Then every knee will bow to Him who alone is master. The Holy Spirit speaks these words about Him. If you and I say that Jesus is the Lord of all people, then Christians can accuse us of pride and arrogance. We are not talking today about the localization or privatization of God for groups of people belonging to Christianity, even if they are numerous; we say that regardless of faith and religion, this time will come. Not because the Word of God (the Bible) was written for the elect, and many believe in the inspiration of Scripture, but because not a single book on earth written by men speaks about all the people who have lived and are living and will live on this earth, without exception, regardless of time and periods (when all sorts of confrontations of the spiritual worlds had not yet been heard), and everyone will bow their knees (heaven, earthly and underworld). I think that these thoughts have not yet convinced anyone to be a believer, and cannot. But the purpose of our reflection is on the fact of what is said in the Holy Scriptures.
When you imagine what time it will be, how insignificant the circumstances through which we still have to go seem! Should I leave what my master doesn't like? But is it even worth talking about this in the light of the immeasurable and eternal glory to which God is leading me? We do not sufficiently develop the idea of its universal influence and the proximity of this moment. Do we expect and long for it? There is no delay on Christ's part: He waits only for souls to be gathered. A little more, just a little, and He will come and will not delay.
If you have accepted Christ as Lord, know that you will have suffering. If He has become my Lord, then trying to do everything to please Him will probably not please my friends or relatives and work colleagues. If He is my master, I must leave a lot, no matter the cost. To do this you need to have grace from the Lord himself.
Put yourself under the law; seems to bring positive results, but law and regulations are not the way of the Lord Jesus. The law reveals my shortcomings and sinfulness, but does not free me from oppression. Most people; and not only Christians resort to obeying laws and regulations. By inventing and creating their own systems, under which they can be delighted and satisfied. But they cannot please the only Lord Jesus Christ, for He Himself is the end of the law!
When the time comes, regardless of works, all who do good and evil will bow their knees before Jesus. Lawless and free, all will recognize Him as the one Lord, for then it will be seen that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father.
Loading...
